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How often do you do a complete change?

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Posted 1/8/2011 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
The ostomy nurses at the hospital basically said every 3-4 days max.  Our home health nurse who has been coming in 3 times a week says it is ok to go 5,6,7 days if it is not showing any signs of lifting.  Personally if it is ok to go up to a week with no adverse effects it would be better on the skin is our feeling. (He kind of has sensitive skin which was one of the big reasons I was hoping he would be a viable candidate for the j-pouch down the road and not have a permanent ileostomy for that reason but it didn't work out that way.)

So....Is that ok to use a wafer up to a week?

He is using the Hollister (convex) 2 piece system that the hospital started him with and since we are comfortable with that we are sticking with it for now.  I am reading through this site and writing down suggestions and will order samples to try once we feel comfortable experimenting.  He is using the clear bags for now since this is all so new and the visual is a little more important for him to monitor and be able to determine if it needs emptying or not.

Posted 1/8/2011 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I use the Hollister 2 piece Convex system, and it has worked well for me. I change once a week, usually at the 7 day mark. If I am feeling unsure, I changed on day 6. Have gone to day 8 without an issue before. Before I found the Hollister System, I had nothing but trouble and leaks. Everyone has to find what works best for them. Good luck.

David in SC
Posted 1/8/2011 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
     Personally, I use the Coloplast one piece.  I had a few incidents with Hollister...breakage of bag, so switched several months ago.

     I had a few irritations under the wafer.  I use stoma powder and it works great.  My surgeon suggested leaving the wafer on longer, up to a week, because the irritation will be less.  I leave it on about four days.

     How's hubby doing these days?  You're a great wife!  My husband has been a ROCK for me.  I sooo appreciate all the help he has given me.  He still insists on changing my bag for me.  I can do it myself, but he prides himself on it...lol.  Sort of reminds me of my dad and mom.  Mom was on peritoneal dialysis the last several years of her life and dad always did her exchanges.  She knew how to do it but he felt needed.  Poor soul died before mom did and she moved in with us for the last year of her life.  They were married 58 yrs when dad passed.  Oh well...getting off topic.

      Best of luck to you and your hubby.  Hope he improves daily.  God bless.

Posted 1/8/2011 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
i ususally do about five days, if i feel an itchy before hand that wont go away i will change sooner, or if i dont have any plans to really go anywhere and know i will be around home if at five days i have no itchies and no wear on the appliance and such i will wait 6 or 7. sure seals will help with the wear time ALOT.
But at first its probably better to change more often, because the stoma size changes so fast.
Posted 1/8/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Every day is better and better thanks. Considering it was 3 weeks ago yesterday he was operated on this is amazing actually. Just went out for a little bit and visited with my sister who is 2 weeks ahead of him and she is coming along..her recovery was a bit slower as she was in a terrible flare, very sick, emergency surgery and developed an infection afterwards which is now gone.

I gave her the link to this site so she can also get info from here that I know will be a help for her as well.
Posted 1/9/2011 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
My ET nurse originally said I could go up to a week without changing as I wasn't having any leaking issues at all. However, I went in to see her for a pouch changing refresher course, as I wanted tips on being more efficient. She saw that, for me, the Adapt Rings I use (and love!) were getting eroded after about 4 days. She recommended not going any longer than four days to avoid irritation around the stoma. So now I change twice a week... usually on Mondays and Thursdays, as I always have Mondays off of work and then Thursday I change in the evening right when I get home. Then again, I have only been back to work one week so we will see how this changing schedule goes.
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